Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, hon members, good evening. Let me start by congratulating you, hon Minister, on your appointment to this busy position. We, as Cope, pledge our unwavering support to you and your team.
Cope supports the fact that a bigger portion of the budget for the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, must go to municipalities, but the department should monitor and remain accountable for the quality of work versus the expenditure. We also call for the issue of incentives to better performing municipalities.
This department should link up with client departments, provinces and municipalities to address job creation. You, Minister, please, should also as a matter of urgency finalise the reclaiming of the mandate of this department, thus ensuring improved co-ordination with client departments regarding decentralised and centralised functions. This will make us, as Cope, see Public Works running with the School Building Programme, particularly with regard to the eradication of mud schools in rural areas, construction of rural access roads, etc. All this should be in partnership with the relevant departments.
Before I forget, the Minister should please remember that there are three schools which are named after traditional leaders, namely Chief Moshoeshoe in Matatiele, Chief Daluhlanga kaJojo in Mount Ayliff and Chief Makaula in Mount Frere. We have a commitment across the political divide in the Eastern Cape that these schools should be transformed into model schools.
By the way, the MEC for Education, hon Qwase, was saying yesterday that they have included other regions and now there are ten schools in this programme.
In conclusion, Chairperson, this department is charged with the responsibility of major infrastructure like the border posts and others. It therefore cannot continue with its current high vacancy rate if it has to meet its mandate.
Cope has declared that we are a patriotic opposition party. Hence, we once more pledge full support to this department.
Xa kufuneka sincome, siza kuncoma. Xa kufuneka sigxeke, siza kugxeka (but constructively). Xa kufuneka sibuze, siza kubuza. [When we have to sing praises, we will sing praises. When we have to criticise, we will criticise, but constructively. When we have to question, we will question.]
I thank you. [Applause.]